2017 WOMEN’S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, March 15 – Saturday, March 18
- IUPUI Natatorium – Indianapolis, IN
- Prelims 10AM/Finals 6PM (Eastern Time)
- Defending Champion: Georgia (results)
- Championship Central
- Psych Sheet
- Event Previews
- Live Stream: Wednesday/Thursday Prelims & Finals, Friday/Saturday Prelims / Friday/Saturday finals on ESPN3
- Live Results
Reported by Lauren Neidigh
WOMEN’S 200 FREE
- NCAA record: Missy Franklin (2015)- 1:39.10
- American record: Missy Franklin (2015)- 1:39.10
- U.S. Open record: Missy Franklin (2015)- 1:39.10
- Championship Record: Missy Franklin (2015)- 1:39.10
- 2016 NCAA Champion: Brittany MacLean (Georgia)- 1:42.42
- (*T-1*) Mallory Comerford (Louisville)- 1:40.36
- (*T-1*) Katie Ledecky (Stanford)- 1:40.36
- Simone Manuel (Stanford)- 1:40.70
How many swimmers can say they successfully ran down Katie Ledecky? Louisville’s Mallory Comerford can. Despite taking it out over half a second slower, Comerford unleashed a monster back half split to tie Ledecky for NCAA gold in the 200 free, as the 2 swimmers touched in 1:40.36.
With the tie, both swimmers demolished the former Pool Record of 1:41.41 done by Stanford’s Simone Manuel on the 800 free relay leadoff at this meet. Manuel had the early lead in tonight’s final, but faded to 3rd in 1:40.70.
Splits Comparison: Mallory Comerford vs. Katie Ledecky vs. Simone Manuel by 50
| SWIMMER | 1ST 50 SPLIT | 2ND 50 SPLIT | 3RD 50 SPLIT | 4TH 50 SPLIT | FINAL TIME |
| Mallory Comerford | 23.95 | 25.51 | 25.37 | 25.53 | 1:40.36 |
| Katie Ledecky | 23.71 | 25.19 | 25.84 | 25.62 | 1:40.36 |
| Simone Manuel(2017) | 23.28 | 25.18 | 25.80 | 26.44 | 1:40.70 |
Splits Comparison: Mallory Comerford vs. Katie Ledecky vs. Simone Manuel by 100
| SWIMMER | 1ST 100 SPLIT | 2ND 100 SPLIT | FINAL TIME |
| Mallory Comerford | 49.46 | 50.90 | 1:40.36 |
| Katie Ledecky | 48.90 | 51.46 | 1:40.36 |
| Simone Manuel | 48.46 | 52.24 | 1:40.70 |
Comerford and Ledecky are now tied as the 2nd fastest performers in history behind only Missy Franklin, who set the American Record at 1:39.10 at the 2015 NCAA Championship meet.
All Time Top Performers: Women’s 200 Free
- Missy Franklin- 1:39.10
- (T-2) Mallory Comerford– 1:40.36
- (T-2) Katie Ledecky– 1:40.36
- Simone Manuel– 1:40.37
- Allison Schmitt- 1:40.62
AB
Comerford had really good final turn. She conserved her energy and was speeding up at the end. Manuel was slowing down.
Honestly, it looked like Ledecky out-touched Mallory on the finish, but the clock never lies.
Must be exciting for Mallory to be up there with the Olympic gold medalists battling for the win.
It’s worth to pay some attention to the Ledecky’s and Comerford’s splits. They all are not the best way to swim 200 yards. Especially it can be said about Comrford where the third fifty were the fastest one. It was a race first of all and it was not about time. Having Manual still ahead of her up to the last 10 – 12 yards Katie Ledecky hasn’t probably paid much attention to the Comerford who was well behind after the first half. I think it was Ledecky’s tactic in this race to stay not more than a half body length behind Semone and to surge at last 15 yards knowing that Manual won’t be able to accelerate at finish.… Read more »
Great race for Katie and Mallory. If Mallory had upset Katie – how would that have been undeserved? You have to pay attention to all competitors – not just one… if Mallory had won outright, Katie would have deserved to be bet because of a flawed way of thinking and racing.
If Mallory had lost by 0.01 – I hardly think she would have thought it was an unsuccessful meet.
Fixed mindsets such as this are such a problem in this sport.
That’s a 2.18s time drop since her freshman year! From 1.42.54 to 1.40.36!
WOW!
In the 100 free she was in 48.31. And so far this season she already lowered her PB to 46.75 at ACC championships . . . where she was in 1.41.70 in the 200 free. So if my maths are good she improved her 200 free by 1.34s since ACCs. So if swimming is logical she should improve her 100 free by 0.67s which means a 46.08 tonight in final! A new American record! But will it be enough to beat Simone Manuel? 😆
Amazing! Does anyone know what her best was before college?
Thanks for the videos!
Mallory – what turns and stroke efficiency!
Wow!
Thanks for the video! Is it possible to post the race videos to the other events as well?
We’re working on the ones from last night. We’ve been able to track down a few on Youtube, but there are no official videos for this meet.